Recent warnings from lexicographer Susie Dent have drawn attention to the growing impact of excessive screen time on young children, particularly those under five.
Dent explains that many children are now falling behind in their vocabulary development because screen use is displacing valuable opportunities for reading, talking, and play‑based interaction—activities that are essential for early language growth.
She emphasises that while screens can have a place when used thoughtfully, the balance has tipped too far, with reading and conversation noticeably in decline.
On Friday 13th February, our CEO Susan McGhee was invited to speak on Stephen Jardine’s BBC Radio Scotland’s Morning show to discuss children’s vocabulary and how our ASN, early learning and school age childcare teams use stories, songs and the learning environment to develop language.
On top of this, the team at Fintry Mains Childcare & Community Hub is working with Dundee Bairns to create and trial ‘On-the-Go’ bags which are packed with craft materials, toys and former library books. These bags have been designed to enable families to build moments of screen‑free connection into daily life, out and about and at home.
According to Lesley Tait, Head of Quality at FCSS:
“We speak to parents every day and although they are concerned about giving their children too much screen time they often need a way to distract their children so that they can complete every-day tasks like washing clothes or preparing dinner. We’re not telling families not to use screens, after all technology can have a positive impact on children’s development, instead we’re providing a simple but effective toolkit which can be used at home or on-the-go as an alternative to screens. At the end of the day, by suggesting simple non‑screen activities we can help families spend more meaningful time together and help them to build healthy routines with confidence and creativity.”
